CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) 鈥� U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday pledged $135 million in aid to Moldova for energy security and to counter Russian disinformation as the Western-leaning nation struggles to blunt Moscow鈥檚 push for influence buoyed by recent successes in its war in neighboring Ukraine.
Opening a short visit to eastern Europe with a stop in Chisinau before traveling to the Czech Republic, Blinken announced the assistance at a news conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu.
Before Wednesday, the U.S. had provided Moldova with $774 million in financial aid since the Ukraine war began in February 2022, $300 million of which was earmarked for energy security. Blinken鈥檚 trip, organized around a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague, comes amid concerns that Moldova and the former Soviet republic of Georgia are facing renewed threats from Russia.
The trip comes two weeks after to reassure Kyiv of Washington鈥檚 support in the face of increased Russian attacks in its north.
There are also signs Russia may be considering new actions in Moldova, where it has 1,500 troops stationed in the , and is behind anti-Western moves in Georgia that the U.S. believes run counter to Moldovan and Georgian aspirations to join the European Union.
Both countries have candidate status to eventually join the 27-nation EU bloc.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not a direct military threat that we see at this time, but there鈥檚 ongoing Russian influence operations, and that is of concern,鈥� the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, James O'Brien, said last week.
Moldova has repeatedly accused Russia of conducting a 鈥渉ybrid war鈥� against the country, and running vast disinformation campaigns to and derail its path toward joining the EU.
Russia has denied the accusations, but the Moldovan government is wary of Moscow鈥檚 intentions, particularly after Transnistrian authorities appealed to Moscow in February for 鈥減rotection鈥� due to what they said was increased pressure from Chisinau.
In Georgia, those fears intensified on Tuesday when the country's parliament overrode a presidential veto of a 鈥渇oreign agents鈥� bill that has prompted weeks of massive protests by critics who say it will restrict media freedom and obstruct Georgia鈥檚 chances of joining the European Union.
that was approved by the parliament earlier this month requires media, nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit groups to register as 鈥減ursuing the interests of a foreign power鈥� if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
The legislature, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, dismissed the veto of President Salome Zourabichvili, an independent. The president now has five days to endorse the bill. If she doesn鈥檛 do so, the parliament speaker will sign it into law.
Zourabichvili, who is increasingly at odds with the governing party, vetoed the bill on May 18. She has accused the governing party of jeopardizing the country鈥檚 future and 鈥渉indering the path toward becoming a full member of the free and democratic world.鈥�
Blinken last week announced that the U.S. would impose travel bans on Georgian officials 鈥渨ho are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members."
Blinken鈥檚 announcement did not identify anyone who has already been targeted, but it said the U.S. would also undertake a comprehensive review of U.S.-Georgia cooperation.
鈥淚t remains our hope that Georgia鈥檚 leaders will reconsider the draft law and take steps to move forward with their nation鈥檚 democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s we review the relationship between our two countries, we will take into account Georgia鈥檚 actions in deciding our own.鈥�
The situations in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine will all be on the agenda at the NATO ministerial meeting in Prague on Thursday and Friday that will be the alliance鈥檚 last major diplomatic get-together before leaders meet at a summit to celebrate in Washington in July.
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Lee reported from Prague. Stephen McGrath contributed from Sighisoara, Romania.
Matthew Lee And Vadim Ghirda, The Associated Press
